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Watchful Waiting

Based on the AUA Guidelines, watchful waiting is the preferred management strategy for patients with mild symptoms. It is also an appropriate option for men with moderate to severe symptoms who have not yet developed complications of BPH such as renal insufficiency, urinary retention or recurrent infection.

Using this strategy, the physician will monitor his patient, typically examining him on a yearly basis, without active intervention in the treatment of BPH. Symptom bother is highly variable across patients, so patients that have a high AUASS symptom score may prefer watchful waiting if they are not highly distressed by the disease.